Who’s better—Paul Skenes or Aaron Judge? A comparison between the two may seem odd to some at first. After all, we’re talking about a towering outfielder who dominates the batter’s box versus a powerhouse pitcher who’s just beginning to carve his mark in Major League Baseball. But hold on, the comparison isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem. For those who don’t know, Aaron Judge wasn’t always the face of the Yankees’ outfield. Early in his career, he too played as a pitcher and even tried his hand at first base. It’s a fun little piece of baseball trivia, one that adds a whole new layer to this comparison.

Well, the latest talk is all about the manager praising the superstar pitcher, and suddenly, Aaron Judge’s name chimes in on the debate. There’s no denying that both players are great for their respective teams, the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates. But why is Skenes being compared with Judge?

In a recent interview just before the Pirates’ opening day game against the Yankees, Shelton was asked about Aaron Judge. He responded, “I have many friends on the staff in New York. He compartmentalizes. The thing that I’ve heard about Judge is that the game is the most important thing for him and how he prepares.”

Shelton emphasized that Judge’s focus on winning and his preparation for the game are paramount. Interestingly, he sees the same qualities in Paul Skenes, even though they play different positions. Shelton elaborated, “I think that’s the same thing in terms of Paul Skenes. Regardless of what’s going on, pitching every fifth or sixth day is the most important thing for him. He prepares that way. From the little bit I know about Aaron, that would be where the comparison is.”

So what he means by his statement is that the Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher has always focused on his pitching every fifth or sixth day. And that’s the most important thing he focused on. Skenes had a stellar 2024 record, where he went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, 23 G, 133.0 IP, and 170 strikeouts at 0.95 WHIP. It is also worth noting that Paul Skenes is an avid follower of Judge, who grew up watching him. Despite his rising career, Skenes believes there’s no “book” written on him yet to prove his worth. 

Aaron Judge, a first pick, posted a home run in his first at-bat and 52 home runs in a single season—what more can one expect from a player of his caliber? Meanwhile, the Pirates’ superstar pitcher delivered a great outing in the must-win game against the Rays. Let’s look at how Skenes fared in the game.

Paul Skenes shines in the Pirates’ must-win game against the Rays

Just as Derek Shelton expected, Paul Skenes definitely lived up to the hype in the must-win faceoff between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays. The 22-year-old pitcher strengthened his position as one of the most promising young talents, pitching seven innings and throwing 102 pitches. But what surprised everyone was his ability to pitch consistently in the right zones, which led the team to a 4-2 victory against the Rays. But that doesn’t end here!

Skenes pitched seven flawless innings, allowing no runs, giving up only three hits, and striking out six batters. His performance effectively crushed the Rays’ hopes and marked a significant turning point for both him and the Pittsburgh Pirates. With his dominant outing, Skenes not only led the team to victory but also ended the Pirates’ losing streak. His composure and control on the mound were evident throughout the game, which tipped the scales in the Pirates’ favor.

And that was it!

How satisfying, according to you, was it to see Paul Skenes accentuating his reputation and making it big in the major league? Let us know.